Archive · 20 Aug 2026
India’s GCCs Evolve Into Testing Grounds for AI-Native Businesses
India’s Global Capability Centres, or GCCs, used to mainly handle support work for companies.
Now many are helping make products, improve business decisions and plan how companies use AI.
India has more than 2,100 GCCs with over 2.3 million workers.
These centres earn more than $70 billion each year.
Many are testing AI workflows, but experts say simply adding chatbots or copilots is not enough.
Companies also need better data, redesigned work processes and clear rules for human oversight.
Dr Ashish Chandra says GCCs in India could become places where new AI-based ways of working are designed and tested.
Successful ideas could then be rolled out across companies around the world.
India had more than 2,100 Global Capability Centres employing over 2.3 million professionals by early 2026.
The centres generated more than $70 billion in annual revenue and are increasingly moving beyond cost-saving back-office work.
NASSCOM projects the GCC ecosystem will reach $105 billion and 2.8 million employees by 2030.
More than 70% of GCCs are reportedly running AI-native workflows, while 92% of leaders say their centres deliver value beyond cost savings.
Dr Ashish Chandra said GCCs could redesign, test and scale AI-driven global operating models for multinational enterprises.
- Who
- India’s Global Capability Centres, their leaders and global enterprises; Dr Ashish Chandra of GFF AI provided expert commentary.
- What
- Indian GCCs are shifting from cost-focused support centres toward strategic hubs for AI, product development and enterprise transformation.
- When
- The reported figures describe the GCC landscape by early 2026, with a projection for 2030.
- Where
- India, within the global operations of multinational enterprises.
- Why
- GCCs are gaining business-process expertise, technology talent and access to enterprise data, enabling them to test and scale AI-native operating models.
- GCCs in India
- More than 2,100 by early 2026
- GCC employment
- More than 2.3 million professionals
- Annual revenue
- More than $70 billion
- 2030 projection
- $105 billion in ecosystem value and 2.8 million employees
- AI-native workflows
- More than 70% of GCCs reportedly run them
- Beyond cost savings
- 92% of GCC leaders say their centres deliver broader strategic value
- Recommended capabilities
- Trusted data, AI engineering, composable architecture, responsible governance and organisational change capacity